Vadodara car crash: Accused was driving Volkswagen at 140kmph, was under influence of cocktail of drugs: Police inform court

Indian Express

21-04-2025

MS University law student Rakshit Chaurasiya, who crashed a speeding Volkswagen Virtus into three two-wheelers, killing one and leaving seven others grievously injured on the night of March 13 in Gujarat's Vadodara, was driving at a speed of 140 kmph, through the busy street on the night of a festival — Holi — under the influence of a cocktail of drugs, namely THC (Tetra-Hydro Cannabinol) and Codeine, the city police informed the court on Monday.
The Vadodara city police shared these details while opposing the bail plea filed by Chaurasiya, who has been in judicial custody since March 17.
The affidavit filed by the Karelibaug police station, through Police Inspector-cum-Investigating Officer HM Vyas, states that the Event Data Recorder (EDR) report received from the German car maker, Volkswagen, has confirmed that the car was being driven at 140 kmph at the time of accident.
The police affidavit states, 'To gain access to the data of the car in the possession of the accused at the time of the incident, the car was sent to the Volkswagen company showroom and a report was received after being analysed in Germany (car manufacturer headquarter). The report stated that the speed of the car at the time of the accident was 140 km per hour, as per the details extracted from the Event Data Recorder (EDR) of the car.'
Nine police pointers against bail
Opposing Chaurasiya's bail plea, the Vadodara city police on Monday put forth nine points before the court.
The police stated that granting bail to Chaurasiya — a law student well-versed with the legal process — would not only 'hamper the trial' in the case but also pose 'a risk that the accused will intimidate witnesses and destroy evidence' in the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) case filed against him and two co-accused — Praanshu Chauhan and Suresh Bharwad.
Chauhan, who is the son of the owner of the Volkswagen Virtus, is also a co-accused in the Karelibaug accident case.
The police affidavit states, 'The police had collected the blood samples of the three (NDPS case) accused — Chaurasiya, Chauhan and Bharwad — at the time of the accident and sent them to the forensic laboratory in Gandhinagar. The FSL report confirmed the presence of Tetra-Hydro Cannabinol (THC) and Codeine in the bloodstream and determined that the accused was under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident. All three persons have been booked in a separate case of NDPS.'
'The accused had consumed cannabis and is likely to intimidate and manipulate witnesses in the case or try to destroy evidence. A simultaneous probe is on to ascertain from where did the accused procure the narcotics and if he is released on bail, he will attempt to destroy evidence in the (NDPS) case,' the affidavit stated.
The police affidavit also highlighted the viral video of Chaurasiya post the accident, in which he was seen screaming, 'another round', naming a friend and also chanting the names of Gods, stating that 'his conduct was that of jubilation as if he had achieved a feat instead of feeling remorse for his action or reaching out in aid of the injured persons.'
The affidavit further stated that Chaursaiya being a native of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is 'likely to remain absent from court hearings during the trial and turn uncooperative in further police investigation'. The police have also emphasised on the fact that being a law student, and 'having knowledge of law, the accused drove the car at top speed, endangering the lives of the people. The accused was also aware that it was the night of a festival, Holi, and the streets would be crowded.' The Vadodara court will next hear the matter on Tuesday with Vadodara District Government Pleader Anil Desai representing the Vadodara city police